Freshly Made Sketches 134

Halfway through the week - YAY!  This week at Freshly Made Sketches Karren is our hostess and her sketch is a real treat to work with.  Karren ranks up there as one of my card making heroes.  Not only is she a very funny lady, but she creates the most amazing cards!

I had a million ideas running around my head when I saw the sketch.  I knew that I wanted to start with some patterned paper for the background layer, so I started this card-making journey by perusing my monster stash of DSP.  I've always loved the colors in Urban Oasis (still mad about SU retiring Kiwi Kiss), so I started my card there.  I quickly chose Basic Gray and Kiwi Kiss added a pop of color from Regal Rose and I was done!  Easy Peasy!

I hope you can join us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  The design team have got some great cards to inspire you to be sure to check them out!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Distressed Grid (Creative Embellishments); Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Urban Oasis DSP (SU)

Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Regal Rose

Accessories:  Pierced Circle STAX, Fancy Flourish die (My Favorite Things); Enamel Dew Drops (Freckled Fawn); baker's twine (American Crafts)

colourQ 239 and Seize the Sketch 19

Happy Tuesday!  Today I've melded the beautiful colors from colourQ and the latest sketch from Seize the Sketch to make a little "thinking of you" card.

The colors are inspired by this dress and the sketch comes to you from Jessi Fogan (I love all those little flags)!  I used some really, really old SU DSP for the background layer on my card and I'll admit it was hard to cut into it.  (If you've been here before you may remember that I've mentioned a time or two that I've got a giant stash of patterned paper that I've been slowly working my way through).  Occasionally I come across a particular favorite in my stash and in moments of weakness, I cut it up.  It's for the best really.

I love sketches like this with a big layer on it that is just perfect for anything your imagination can cook up!  I used it to show off these beautiful colors with some stems and butterflies.

Be sure to check out the inspiration from colourQ and Seize the Sketch because there are some great cards all around for you to see!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Grand Peaceful Wildflowers, Winged Beauties (My Favorite Things)

Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White, Berry Bliss DSP (SU)

Ink:  Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink); Tuxedo Black (Memento); Calypso Coral, Pumpkin Pie (SU); Copics

Accessories:  Winged Beauties die (My Favorite Things); Banner Bundle die (Verve)

Oh Baby!

I need to make some baby-themed cards for an expectant mother and as luck would have it I don't really own any decent stamps for the job.  The card I've got to show you today I made with some cheap stamps I picked up at Michael's for a few bucks.  They were on the clearance rack and didn't cost much and after having used them today I can see why.  Despite the lousy stamps, the card came out kinda cute *wink*

I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch for my layout and as luck would have it, but not surprisingly, I missed that the bottom of my card is supposed to be different than the top.  I also used the colors from Cupcake Inspirations and before you wonder why I forgot the pink look really closely at the baby's mouth.  I feel badly that I didn't use more pink in the spirit of the challenge but since I screwed up the sketch I figured I might as well continue the theme with a screwed up color palette.  Sheesh.

Tomorrow is another day so hopefully I can redeem myself when I sit back down in the old craft cave.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Oh Baby (Hampton Art)

Paper:  Pistachio Pudding, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding DSP (SU)

Ink:  Early Espresso (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics

Accessories:  Flower Daisies #2 (Sizzix); First Place Ribbon die (My Favorite Things); Farmhouse button (October Afternoon); crochet thread

Good Tidings

I don't know why but I obsessed over this card for way too long.  I finally just decided to post it and move on.

This is my somewhat liberal take on the Deconstructed Sketch using colors from the Festive Friday challenge.  I wanted to use stamps to mimic the flags in the sketch so I grabbed some of my favorite textural stamps, added the sentiment, some washi and sequins and thought I was done.  But then I realized that I missed the little circle element on the sketch so I went back and added a snowflake.  I still wasn't happy though.  There wasn't really anything festive about my card, an essential element of the Festive Friday challenge.  So I put it aside and went to bed.

By the time I got back in my stamp room I had spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about this card.  In order to add the festive I pulled apart a bunch of stuff, added a Christmas tree shape and a star.  I'm still not entirely happy with it, but it is what it is!

Lots of rain yesterday (yuck).  The weeds are going crazy in the garden and I've no time to pull them out.  Should be a fun adventure out there when the sun comes out!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Textures 1 (Florileges Design); Abstract Art (My Favorite Things); Jingle All the Way (Technique Tuesday); Playful Christmas 2 (Kitchen Sink Stamps)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Real Red, Very Vanilla (SU)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Garden Green (SU)

Accessories:  Stitched Stars die (Lil' Inker Designs); Berry Blend sequins (Avery Elle); washi tape

Freshly Made Sketches 133

Half way through the work week - Yay!  And Wednesday's are also the day when we get to show you the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  This week Cindy Lovell is our hostess and her sketch provided some great inspiration for the design team.  Just wait 'til you see!  Here's my card.

For my part this is the second card that I made with this sketch.  The first one had a misguided attempt at a burlap layer that I wish had stayed buried in my subconcious.  It goes without saying that I like this one much better.  The colors in this DSP are so pretty.  I love it when a little black is thrown in with color!

The Freshly Made Sketches design team have once again created some beautiful cards for you to see this week.  Don't forget to check them out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden (SU); Hashtags (Stamper's Anonymous); Distressed Background Blocks (My Favorite Things)

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Pool Party (SU); Pitch Black (Adirondack)

Accessories:  Meadow Leaf die (Poppystamps)

colourQ 238

Hi everyone!  Since it's Tuesday we've got a new palette of gorgeous colors at colourQ.  This week our inspiration comes from this hat.  I don't know about you, but when I see yellow and purple together I think of pansies (or Johnny Jump Ups)!

I didn't think I had any stamps that resembled pansies and I fully expected to have to make do with something else.  Then I found SU's Stippled Blossoms in my stash which I had completely forgotten that I had.  Oops.  I guess someone should take a look around a bit more often!

I didn't want to detract from the blossoms and leaves too much so I layered them on a Daffodil Delight layer that I embellished with some translucent embossing paste.  I think the bright yellow is a bit more "in your face" than I wanted but it's certainly bright and cheery!  My layout comes from the latest Sketch Saturday where I substituted the two small round circles for a bit of hodgepodge hardware and a tiny length of ribbon.  

These colors have clearly inspired the colourQ design team because they have served up a whole lot of beautiful cards this week.  Be sure to stop on by and check them out.  Then join us in the gallery - we'd love to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Stippled Blossoms, Artfully Asian (SU)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories:  Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box); Honeycomb stencil (Heidi Swapp); translucent embossing paste (Dreamweaver); Hodgepodge Hardware, Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon (SU); crochet thread

Hashtag Happy

My sister's birthday is today and I started making a card for her on Tuesday.  It's been a busy week at work and each night when I got home I only had so much steam before I ran out so it took me until Friday to get this done.  Ack!  Hopefully next week, I'll be a bit better prepared.

The good news is that I really like this card that I made using the sketch at Cardabilities and the colors from The Color Throwdown.  I combined a little clean style grunge with a floral and leafy accent.

Busy day ahead for me so I'm keeping this short and sweet.  If you celebrate Easter I hope that you have a lovely one with your family.  And thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes (SU); Hashtags (Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous); DIY (Precious Remembrance)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Basic Gray, Whisper White, Urban Garden DSP (SU)

Ink:  Basic Gray, Gumball Green, Melon Mambo (SU)

Accessories:  First Place Ribbon die (My Favorite Things); Cambridge Court enamel dots (My Mind's Eye); Pretty Pink Color Mist (Mister Huey's)

Freshly Made Sketches 132

I'm pretty sure that this weeks sketch for Freshly Made Sketches designed by Jen Brum is going to make for a very interesting and eclectic gallery. I know when I saw it I thought about adding layers of stamped images rather than layers of paper and I had a lot of fun while doing it.  So I image there's lots of ways you will interpret this sketch.

The colors from the latest challenge at The Paper Players gave me some license to add very different stamped images for my "any shape" part of the card.  I love it when I can blend colors like these with such different images.  And I just had to ink up this bold sentiment from my brand new Winnie & Walter set.  Where have these stamps been all my life?

It's been like a typhoon here lately with some high winds that I can't help dreading that this spring will be awful on the heels of the awful winter we had.  And we were doing so well with the sunny skies and lovely warm temperatures :(

As always, the Freshly Made Sketches design team has got some amazing cards to show you to get your creative juices flowing.  So don't be shy - check them out!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU); Jofy Collection 12 (Jofy); Sketchy Chevron Border (Impression Obsession); The Big, the Bold and You (Winnie & Walter)

Paper:  White Linen (Ellen Hutson); Coastal Cabana, Whisper White (SU)

Ink:  Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Always Artichoke (SU)

Accessories:  My Girl enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

colourQ 237 and Seize the Sketch 18

Hello, hello!  It's Tuesday so that means the big reveal of a new colour palette at colourQ and a new sketch from Seize the Sketch.  This week Arielle has found color inspiration in this gorgeous bag and our sketch is designed by Jessica!  So let's get to it.

I dipped into my very precious supply of Walk in the Park DSP for this card.  There's no sense having all this pretty paper if I can't show it off every so often (is what I said to myself as I put the paper under the knife).  Seriously, I've been on a mission to use up my existing stash of patterned paper FOREVER and I think it must be secretly multiplying when I'm not looking because I don't feel like I'm all that much closer to seeing the end of it.  So using a treasured bit of paper is really no hardship.  Not. At. All.

I took an inordinately long time arranging the white thread on my card.  I wanted it to appear like it randomly appeared and was not contrived in any way, which is actually harder than it looks.  I think I fiddled with it for about 10 minutes before I was satisfied that it didn't look like I spent 10 minutes fiddling with it.

So you know the drill.  My stamping friends at both colourQ and Seize the Sketch would love it if you joined us for these challenges.  Just hop on over to the blogs to check out the details.  And while you're there I guarantee that you will be awed and amazed at the cards the design teams have created.  See you in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Subway Series:  Basics (Fresh Squeezed Stamps)

Paper:  Basic Gray, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP (SU)

Ink:  Basic Gray, Peach Parfait (SU)

Accessories:  Vertical Greetings II die (My Favorite Things); My Girl enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

Hello for PPA199 & SS305

I have really been on a roll the last few days in my craft room churning out cards left and right.  I must be neglecting my house work because I've had all kinds of extra time to get down and dirty with my stamping stash.  Today I've got a card using the colors from Pals Paper Arts and the layout from Sketch Saturday.

I went with a little abstract interpretation of the sketch.  I briefly thought about dragging out my old scallop circle nesties and doing a layered circle-thing but I thought it would be more fun if I created that circle with a stamp instead.  So I grabbed a big ol' grungy stamp and that became my "circle".  For some reason, I stamped one of the dotted images from PTI's Feather Finery over the grungy image in Versamark and heat embossed it with white and I really don't know why I bothered since you can't see it.  It would have looked better if I had done it in a color that actually showed up!  And for a little added oomph I went over the little flower with my brand new Wink of Stella pen and although you can't see it in the photo, the glimmer it adds is absolutely fabulous!  Hands down, this is the best new thing I've purchased in ages!

Mother Nature must have got the memo that we're all pretty much fed up with winter around here because she's been delivering us some wonderful spring-like weather lately.  It's so nice to open the windows in the house and let in some fresh air!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Extreme Elements, Summer Silhouettes (SU); Sunny Days (Verve); Feather Finery (Papertrey Ink), The Big, the Bold and the Happy (Winnie &Walter)

Ink:  So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral (SU); Onyx  Black, (Versafine); Versamark

Accessories:  Leafy Sprigs die (Verve); white embossing powder; Wink of Stella pen

Christmas Cheer

I've been lucky the last couple of days to find myself with some extra time so I've been putting it to good use in the old craft cave.  Today I've got a card to share that I made for the inspiration challenge at Festive Friday using the sketch at Cardabilities.

The antique mirror coupled with all that white in the inspiration photo made me think of vellum and the brown from the twigs made me bring in some natural colors so I used Crumb Cake as my card base and added some Chocolate Chip for depth.  Although it might not look like it, the vellum is not an ordinary flower but is actually a poinsettia (my nod to festive).  The sketch made me, once again, lament that I don't own any doilies so I improvised the big lacy circle by using a stamp instead.

This Christmas card may be a bit over the top for some on my mailing list since not everyone will understand why I put images of a coffee stain and some ink splatters with my poinsettia!  But that's what I saw in my head when I found the sketch so that is what I made!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Dot Spot (Papertrey Ink); Java Spills (Stamping Bella), DIY (Precious Remembrance); Jingle All the Way (Technique Tuesday)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Vellum, Champagne Glimmer (SU)

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green (SU)

Accessories:  Blooming Poinsettia die (Memory Box); Sentiment Strips 2 die (My Favorite Things)

Hello Lovely

Trying to incorporate the use of stencils for Virginia's View challenge and the interesting sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch I tried something a little different for me.  I've made cards before where I've stamped an image onto card stock then cut the card stock into squares to create a sort-of mosaic look.  But today I did that with a stencil and some embossing paste.

I kinda-sorta like how it turned out but the truth is the jury is still out.  I like the soft colors, which are for the Color Throwdown challenge, but I wish the embossed leafy design showed up a little better.  It looks pretty neat in real life but it doesn't quite have the oomph I was going for!  I thought about doing a little layered flower for a focal point but I seem to be stuck on butterflies lately (especially these delicate ones) so I layered a couple of these pretty die cuts together.

The weather here has been spectacular this week - it looks like spring is finally making an appearance!  Hopefully I'll have a chance to enjoy it this weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Wet Paint (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Classic White (Flourishes); Solar White (Neenah); Soft Sky, Pistachio Pudding (SU); Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Leanna Butterfly die, Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp); embossing paste (Dreamweaver); Bluebell Smile enamel dots (My Mind's Eye)

Freshly Made Sketches 131

Happy Wednesday!  This week at Freshly Made Sketches Cindy Hall is our hostess and she has designed a fun and versatile sketch.  Cindy is a stamping hero of mine because not only does she create beautiful cards for ladies but also effortlessly creates jaw-droppingly fabbo cards for men!  I find those in particular to be so difficult to make but she makes it looks so easy!  So if ever you need some inspiration for that oh-so-difficult man-card, just pop on over to Cindy's blog and she'll fix you right up!  Now on to today's card and sketch!

This is actually the second card I made for this sketch.  The first one was winning the "what was I thinking award" before I came to my senses and scrapped it.  Once I threw the ugly pieces out I had an epiphany and grabbed this pretty sunflower die, realizing it needed to be the focal point of my card.  I had a tough time deciding how to do the horizontal layer before I got creative and used a grungy PTI stamp to simulate it.  And since it's been ages since I used my favorite "math" washi tape I stuck a little bit of that down too.

Our always amazing Freshly Made Sketches design team will knock your socks off with their cards this week so be sure to head on over to check them out.  I hope we'll see you in the gallery!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Sketchy (KaiserCraft); Watercolor Wonder (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit (SU); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things)

Ink:  Pool Party (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Sunflower die (My Favorite Things); Crumb Cake button (SU); jute twine; math washi tape

colourQ 236

Spring is sure taking its sweet time getting here this year.  After the winter that wouldn't go away, we've got the spring that won't arrive.  We're stuck in this weather twilight zone and every day I pray that the warm sun will finally shine on my face.  The weather forecast for this week looks good so hopefully we are turning the corner!

Despite what's going on outside, inside your craft room I can promise you some wonderful spring-y colors courtesy of this week's colourQ palette.  Arielle has found another color combo that is sure to light up the gallery!

I got some new dies last week so I tried them out here (although the butterfly die isn't quite what I thought it was).  I thought it was an ordinary die that cut out a butterfly, but it actually is designed to just cut the wings.  The body of the butterfly doesn't cut clean through the card stock so if you want the whole butterfly you have to carefully cut the body out with scissors.  The die is so pretty though that it's worth the little extra bit of trouble.

I kinda-sorta followed the Wanna Sketch for my layout.  The sketch calls for two layers on top of the card base and I started to do that.  But the second layer interfered with how the leafy die cut looked to my eye, so I decided that the those leaves would be the second "layer."  

We'd love to see you in the gallery this week at colourQ!  And don't forget to check out the beautiful cards made by our amazing design team.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  DIY (Precious Remembrance); Winged Beauties (My Favorite Things)

Paper:  Woodgrain (Simon Says Stamp); Solar White (Neenah); Bermuda Bay, Cool Caribbean, Tangerine Tango, Peach Parfait (SU)

Ink:  Cool Caribbean, Bermuda Bay

Accessories:  Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp); Palm Fancy die (Hero Arts); Asti Buttefly die, Willoughby Butterfly die (Memory Box); translucent embossing paste (Dreamweaver)